First Move Illinois Project to Create 390 Jobs, Support Economic Growth
HUNTLEY–(ENEWSPF)–August 27, 2012. Governor Pat Quinn was joined by representatives from the Village of Huntley, Kane and McHenry counties, local labor unions and the Department of Transportation and the Illinois Tollway to visit the Tollway’s first construction project as part of the 15-year, $12 billion Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future capital program. Construction of the new all-electronic interchange at Illinois Route 47 on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) signals a new day for the Village of Huntley and a commitment to “green” for the Tollway. The project is expected to create 390 direct and indirect jobs and boost economic development across the region.
“Energetic partnerships and projects such as this new green interchange are paving the way for growth,” Governor Quinn said. “At a time when other states are curbing transportation projects, Illinois is moving forward. This project will improve the quality of life for residents in Huntley, McHenry County and Kane County for years to come, and will do so while protecting the environment.”
The new interchange will improve access for Tollway customers traveling to and from Huntley and also offer opportunities for new jobs and economic development along Illinois Route 47 and beyond. According to a study commissioned by the Village of Huntley, the new interchange is estimated to create nearly 12,000 retail, office and light industrial jobs in the region by 2030. In addition, it will provide an annual direct income of $455.9 million and increase property tax values nearly $500 million to $732 million.
The I-90/Illinois Route 47 Interchange Project includes construction of six new ramps with all-electronic toll plazas, reconstruction of the bridge carrying Illinois Route 47 over I-90, as well as local traffic signal installation and lighting improvements. Existing ramps only provide access for drivers traveling to and from the east on I-90 and were constructed in the early 1970’s.
“As the first Move Illinois project, the I-90/Route 47 Interchange will be part of a state-of-the-art, 21st century Jane Addams corridor,” said Illinois Tollway Executive Director Kristi Lafleur. “This project exemplifies what is possible when state and local government work together.”
“We are catching the eye of domestic and international businesses because of the full access interchange, our business friendly environment and our close proximity to two international airports,” says Huntley Village President Charles Sass. “This is a perfect example of local and state governments working together to maximize taxpayer dollars to promote economic development.”
One company already announcing plans to relocate to Huntley and expand its light manufacturing and distribution operations is FYH Bearing Units USA Inc., Japan’s oldest and largest mounted ball bearing manufacturer. Settling into their new home in the fall of 2012, FYH will have nearly 40,000 square feet of additional space for future expansion and has plans to double its current number of 16 employees over the next few years.
The Tollway is building the $69 million I-90/Illinois Route 47 Interchange Project in partnership with the Village of Huntley, Kane County, McHenry County and the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT). Consistent with the Tollway’s Interchange and Roadway Cost Sharing Policy requiring local communities to fund half of the cost of interchange improvements, the Tollway is financing half of the cost, with IDOT contributing approximately 25 percent and the remainder being funded by the Village of Huntley, Kane and McHenry counties.
“The Illinois Route 47 interchange is yet another example of the tremendous spirit of cooperation that exists with the Illinois Department of Transportation, the Illinois Tollway and our partners in local government,” said Transportation Secretary Ann L. Schneider. “This project will benefit drivers throughout the region by improving access to an important north-south route and reducing commuting times. We look forward to working together again on projects that take advantage of our existing infrastructure to improve safety, create jobs and economic development, enhancing the quality of life for Illinois residents.”
“Centegra Health System is thrilled that with the Review Board’s approval of our new hospital in Huntley, we are now in a position to not only improve access to healthcare and wellness services in Southern McHenry and Northern Kane Counties but also to help stimulate the regional economy by creating approximately 800 construction jobs and 1100 full time health care jobs when the hospital is complete. Between the Rt. 47 / I-90 project and the construction of Centegra Hospital–Huntley the timing could not be better.”
Construction for the new interchange began in June and with the hard work of more than 10 labor unions, it is scheduled to be completed in 2013.
“Access to I-90 will change the face of McHenry County and create opportunity for jobs and economic development that would not exist without this expanded interchange,” said McHenry County Chairman Ken Koehler. “We are grateful to our partners and to Governor Quinn for recognizing the importance of this project to the local and regional economies and to the Midwest region overall.”
“Kane County is committed to creative, cutting-edge planning and strong cooperation and this interchange is another example of what we can do when our communities work together,” said Kane County Board Chairman Karen McConnaughay. “Five different government agencies have worked to make this project a reality and we are pleased that Governor Quinn is here with us today to celebrate with us all.”
In addition to the new interchange’s travel and economic benefits, the I-90/Route 47 Interchange will be the Tollway’s first “green” interchange on its system. Following Governor Quinn’s call for the agency to be “clean and green,” the first Move Illinois project to break ground features several new green construction initiatives:
- A geothermal heat pump system to enhance efficiency and reduce energy costs through heating and cooling the control units that house electronic tolling equipment.
- Reflective roofs and trellised vegetation for control units to further reduce heating and cooling costs.
- Ramp shoulder pavement that will allow water to seep through and reduce stormwater runoff.
Roadway construction for the new interchange also includes the use of recycled materials and warm mix asphalt, which reduces energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions during production. Detention basins with filtration systems featured at the new interchange will not only reduce the amount of roadway surface water and lessen the chance of downstream flooding, but they will also filter out the sediments and pollutants typically discharged from roadway surface water runoff. The Tollway is going to continue to explore these and other “green” construction technologies in the construction of all future interchanges.
About Move Illinois
The Illinois Tollway’s $12 billion capital program, Move Illinois: The Illinois Tollway Driving the Future, will improve mobility, relieve congestion, reduce pollution, create as many as120,000 jobs and link economies across the Midwest region. Move Illinois will address the remaining needs of the existing Tollway system; rebuild and widen the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) as a state-of-the-art 21st century corridor; construct a new interchange to connect the Tri-State Tollway (I-294) to I-57; build a new, all-electronic Elgin O’Hare Western Access and fund planning studies for the Illinois Route 53 Extension and the Illiana Expressway.
About the Illinois Tollway
The Illinois Tollway is a user-fee system that receives no state or federal funds for maintenance and operations. The agency maintains and operates 286 miles of interstate tollways in 12 counties in Northern Illinois, including the Reagan Memorial Tollway (I-88), the Veterans Memorial Tollway (I-355), the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway (I-90) and the Tri-State Tollway (I-94/I-294/I-80).
Source: illinois.gov
